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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (Expert Forum)
Lung Function
by JR44, Dec 18, 2007 03:33PM
What is Subsegmental atelectasis at the lung bases. This was the "Impression" on a recent hospital test. The "Indication" was Dyspnea.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, Dec 19, 2007 05:03PM
, Dec 19, 2007 05:03PM
The lungs are divided, anatomically, into progressively smaller portions; lung to lobes to segments and then sub-segments. Atelectasis means collapse. Thus, x-ray findings that suggest collapse of a sub-segment would be a very small piece of lung. In almost all instances, this finding has no implication, serious or otherwise. When larger portions of lung collapse, one wonders about their being a bronchial obstruction, by mucus or tumor. This is not so with sub-segmental atelectasis, which is frequently reversible over time. The most one would ever do, and this with a history of heavy smoking, would be to repeat the x-ray in a year.
Member Comments (2)
by JR44, Dec 20, 2007 10:48AM
To: Doctor's Answer
Thanks so very much for your clear and concise explanation.
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